Nature and Creativity (and finding nature anywhere)

Have you ever been having a bad day or just felt cranky or off? I was having one of those days. I walk mostly every day and even though I know that it would make me feel better, this day I had to force myself to go.I told myself I only had to walk a mile.  I would just roam around my town for a while and when my walking app told me I had walked a mile I would be done.I wasn't going to go on any of my regular trails.  I was walking to get it over with (and hopefully magically not be cranky any more.)As I was walking I went toward one of the walking trails in my town and even though I had told myself that's not what I was going to do, I found myself turning onto the trail.And then I found myself turning off and going toward the wetland preserve that's just off the trail.Almost immediately I felt better.  My shoulders dropped.  My breathing relaxed. My face went from scrunched up to almost a smile.A butterfly fluttered by me.  I could hear birds chirping and bullfrogs croaking.  The ducks were swimming around.  There were flowers and green plants all aroundIt felt like magic.Have you ever experienced this?Nature has such a healing quality.  There have been studies to prove that being in nature reduces stress and anxiety.But not only that, being in nature helps our creativity.  You spend most of the day multitasking and thinking of a million things.  Nature always you to slow down and focus on one thing.There are so many ways that nature can inspire art.  You might make jewelry using colors inspired by nature or shapes of a branch. Or you might just feel recharged and have creative ideas from being away from the hustle and bustle of life.How to bring more nature into your lifeI love to go on a hike in the woods or venture out to a waterfall.  However, most of the time that I experience nature it's really just in my own town within walking distance of my home.Even if you live in an urban area there are probably natural places you can visit and get the same effect.

• Is there a nearby park you can visit?
• Is there a flower garden in your town?  When I first moved to the town where I live I was delighted to find the historical society had a public garden.  I love to go there to relax and think.
• There may be little areas in your town like riparian barriers where it's just green space.  Sometimes there are walking trails that follow them.  Maybe there's a park next to one.
• You might discover little walking paths.  I'm so surprised to find a new one every now and then in my town.
• My very favorite tree is one that is just outside my window.  Whenever I'm feeling stressed or creativity blocked and I can't get outside for a walk I look at it.
• Your own yard is probably a great place to start!  When is the last time you had your feet in the grass?
• Maybe there's simply a bench with a flower pot next to it.

You don't have to go on a big hike to get the benefits of being in nature.  Keep your eyes open for little spaces of nature that you can enjoy.If you want to get use your experience in nature as inspiration to create some great jewelry, check out my Nature Jewelry eWorkshop.In it you get a creativity booster that's nature related, jewelry making skills lessons and 5 nature inspired jewelry making projects.Click here to find out more about it!